Chapter 535: The Yeats Family Has to Pay So Much Money in Compensation...

So, even if Zion Yeats claimed ignorance, no one would believe him.

Claire Yeats’s mind BUZZED. Her vision darkened in waves, and she could barely stay on her feet. She felt as though the entire world was hurling malicious insults at her. Why? Why… It wasn’t supposed to be like this. She didn’t want this either!

Old Mrs. Yeats was furious, her voice rising to a shrill scream. “Estelle Lockwood! If you’re Ember, why didn’t you say so earlier?! You schemed against us! You did this on purpose!”

Estelle raised an eyebrow slightly. “Say so earlier? When exactly did you want me to say it, Old Mrs. Yeats? When would have been ‘early enough’ in your eyes?”

Old Mrs. Yeats roared, “Of course it should have been—”

“Of course it should have been three years ago, when Claire Yeats first impersonated me?” Estelle interrupted flatly. “You might have forgotten, Old Mrs. Yeats, but three years ago, someone did try to talk to the Yeats Family about this. However, they didn’t even get to see the Yeats before being chased away by Old Mr. Yeats’s assistant.”

Estelle asked slowly, “So, how exactly was I supposed to tell you?”

Zion Yeats’s expression changed drastically, his whole body trembling. “I… I didn’t know. I really didn’t know…”

“Does Old Mr. Yeats know how to say anything other than ‘I didn’t know’?” Estelle asked curiously. “Let’s assume for a moment that you truly didn’t know. But then again, if Old Mr. Yeats didn’t even know about something this important, would it have mattered if I had said anything?

“If I had told the truth back then and revealed that I was Ember, I would have only faced complete annihilation by the Yeats Family. After all, I was weak and alone at the time. How could I have ever fought against the Yeats Family? Isn’t that right?”

Someone in the crowd scoffed with disdain. “This is hilarious. How does Old Mrs. Yeats have the nerve to blame Miss Lockwood for not speaking up sooner?

“Did Miss Lockwood force your precious granddaughter to impersonate and plagiarize her? Did Miss Lockwood make Claire Yeats this vain?

“If Miss Lockwood had spoken up back then, the Yeats Family probably wouldn’t have just suppressed the news—they would have quietly disposed of Miss Lockwood altogether. Then, no one would have ever exposed Claire’s true colors.

“Old Mrs. Yeats, you wanted Miss Lockwood to speak up early just so you could nip the exposure in the bud. Do you think we’re all fools?”

Old Mrs. Yeats trembled with rage, her face twisted in malice. She felt this was all Estelle’s fault. Since they were all family, why couldn’t she discuss these things in private instead of blowing them out of proportion? Estelle just wanted to embarrass the Yeats Family!

“Shut up! All of you, shut up!” Old Mrs. Yeats roared. “This is our family matter! Estelle, you better not blow this out of proportion! Claire’s dignity is the Yeats Family’s dignity. If you dare treat Claire like this, the Yeats Family will never let you off!”

Claire was already in tears.

Zion stammered, trying to back her up. “Estelle, Claire only acted out of impulse because she idolized Ember too much. Besides… besides, she is your sister! Do you really have to make things this ugly?

“It was wrong for Claire to reference your work this time, but… but she has many of her own designs too. Moreover, she has the Yeats Group backing her. Just drop this!”

[My God, what kind of twisted morals does the Yeats Family have to say something like that?]

[Do they not realize they’re on a live broadcast right now?]

[Old Mrs. Yeats might not know, but Old Mr. Yeats definitely does. The fact that he can say something like this while knowing he’s live proves that he genuinely thinks he’s right.]

[He just believes that Estelle shouldn’t harm the Yeats Family for her own selfish gains. He probably thinks that since she returned to the Yeats Family, she should be ready to sacrifice herself for them… Ugh, disgusting.]

[Reference? It’s blatant plagiarism! How can he sugarcoat it so shamelessly!]

[But regardless, if the Yeats Family protects Claire to the death, she’ll still get to be the superior Miss Yeats…]

[Estelle shares the Yeats Family’s blood. By using that against her, they can use the ‘family matter’ excuse to force her into submission… No matter how brutally the internet curses Claire, she can just act like nothing happened. So shameless…]

“Who exactly is blowing things out of proportion? Is it Estelle?” Ms. Foster couldn’t help but mock.

Zion’s face flushed red. “Ms. Foster, this is our family matter!”

“Save it, Old Mr. Yeats. We are not family.” Estelle ran a hand through her hair. “Old Mr. Yeats merely wants to label this as a family matter to turn a big issue into a small one, and eventually sweep it under the rug. But is this the kind of thing that can be resolved with just the phrase ‘family matter’?”

[Heh, Old Mr. Yeats sounds exactly like those domestic abusers. Malicious assault is malicious assault, but they always have to slap the word ‘domestic’ on it. By calling it ‘domestic violence’, beating someone suddenly seems justified. If you question them, their answer is always: ‘This is our family matter, why are you outsiders interfering?’]

[Take right now, for instance. Claire impersonated, stole, plagiarized, and slandered. If Estelle hadn’t cleared her name, Claire would have climbed to the top over her dead body. Yet, this massive scandal that shocked the entire design industry is nothing but a ‘family matter’ to Old Mr. Yeats. And if Estelle refuses to forgive her, she’s deemed petty.]

[I’m actually sick to my stomach.]

Zion noticed everyone looking at him with disdain. His face flushed bright red, and he stood there helplessly. “I… I just think that a peaceful family prospers…”

“However, Old Mr. Yeats is right about one thing,” Estelle said slowly. “Claire has produced quite a few designs for the Yeats Family over the years. The Yeats Group’s design department exists purely for Claire. She has the Yeats Group backing her, so even if I pursue this, it actually won’t do much good.

“People remember Claire’s plagiarism and impersonation now, but in three years, many might forget or remain ignorant of it. When that time comes, Claire will still be able to design under the title of Miss Yeats. I can’t possibly explain her history of plagiarism to every single person I meet, can I?” Estelle smiled bitterly.

The crowd couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. She was right. With the Yeats Family behind her, whether Claire continued to be a designer or not, she would always be a privileged young lady of high status.

But were they really going to let Claire get away with this?!

Old Mrs. Yeats let out a satisfied smile. “At least you have some self-awareness…”

“However…” Estelle tilted her head. “Everything I just said was under the assumption that the Yeats Group’s design department still exists.

“But what if the Yeats Group’s design department is gone?

“Or even more seriously, what if the Yeats Group suffers a massive blow? Forget the design department—the entire Branch of Yeats Group might go down with it. What will the Yeats Family do then?”

The entire venue fell dead silent. They wondered what she meant.

Claire was the first to react. Choking on her own rising panic, her expression drastically warped. “Estelle Lockwood! What are you planning?!

“You… it’s only right that you hate me. I understand that. But the Yeats Family is your home too! Why would you target the Yeats Family?! The Branch of Yeats Group is Uncle Yeats and Grandma’s lifeblood… How could you do this?!”

Old Mrs. Yeats also realized the severity of the situation, her voice breaking into a throat-tearing shriek. “You little monster! You monster—don’t you dare?! I will never forgive you!”

“That’s quite a thing to say, Old Mrs. Yeats,” Estelle replied breezily. “Haven’t we been at each other’s throats for a while now? Besides… Old Mrs. Yeats, screaming at me won’t do you any good.

“It’s not that I want to target the Yeats Family. It’s just that…”